Nothing Major

Latest Episodes:

Kalamazoo, Cincy Chaos & the Ultimate Pronunciation Challenge | EP 93 Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

In this week's Friday episode, John, Sam and Steve take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the legendary Kalamazoo boys' tennis tournament and its significance in the junior tennis world.
The boys share stories about their enjoyable (and sometimes chaotic) times at the Cincinnati Open and dive into the Major Mailbag to answer your questions, including revealing who are the worst practice partners on Tour...
And finally after months of embarrassing himself with the worst attempts at pronouncing professional tennis player names, Sam is put in the hot seat, with a list of names chosen by our listeners.
00:00 Sponsor Message
01:25 Intro
03:56 Cincinnati Memories
10:14 Kalamazoo Tournament Recap
17:11 Fan Questions: Analytics in Tennis
20:19 Cincy Ball Kids and Personal Experiences
22:13 Practice Partners and Arrangements
23:24 Challenges with Practice Partners
25:47 American Players in Masters 1000
26:21 Hypothetical Matchup: College Steve Johnson vs. Ben Shelton
27:17 Life Advice: Parenthood, yes or no?
29:41 The Ultimate Pronunciation Challenge
34:31 Goodbye!

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Shelton’s Toronto Triumph, Mboko’s Breakthrough & Who Got Robbed by the Big 4? | EP 92 Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

John, Sam, and Steve kick off your week “live” from Cincinnati, running down the biggest headlines in tennis, including Ben Shelton’s maiden Masters 1000 title in Toronto and teenage Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko capturing her first title and rising to Canadian No. 1.
The crew breaks down Shelton’s explosive athleticism, undeniable clutch gene, and the tactical brilliance of his father, while also celebrating Mboko’s stunning run in Canada and discussing her ceiling and career potential.
And of course, there’s never a wrong time to talk about the Big 4, the squad debates who truly got robbed of Masters 1000 titles in the shadow of their dominance.
00:00 Intro
01:25 Episode Overview
03:05 Cincinnati Tournament Insights
05:09 Toronto Tournament Highlights
05:26 Ben Shelton's Rise in Tennis
12:59 Women's Tennis Highlights
19:20 Upcoming US Open Predictions
21:35 Tennis Player Performance Analysis
22:17 Carlos Alcaraz's Travel Schedule
24:12 Masters Series Discussion
28:10 Life Advice Segment Debut
31:42 Outro and Cincy Predictions
31:56 A Wild John Isner Appears

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Mailbag, Cincinnati Tales, and a Masters 1000 Debate | EP 91 Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

The boys are back as tennis heads to Cincinnati for the latest Masters 1000!
With a fresh debate around the new Masters 1000 structure the talk of tennis., John, Jack, Sam and Steve are joined by Toronto Tournament Director, Karl Hale to offer his thoughts on the hot topic.
The group discuss player withdrawals, the schedule shake-up, and throw out some wildly confident predictions for Cincinnati. The boy take a trip down memory lane, remembering some memorable moments in Mason, Ohio and break down the big renovation that might just make it the best Masters 1000 on the calendar (depending on who you ask).
The Major Mailbag makes it popular appearance, and it's time to tackle your burning questions, from coaching insights to lower-ranked player's sponsor challenges.
Plus the boys reveal an exciting event with Red Bull next month, and one lucky listener might even get a chance to join the fun...
00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message
01:26 Episode Overview
02:06 Red Bull Flugtag Event Announcement
03:55 Cincinnati Tournament Discussion
11:16 Mailbag Questions
17:09 Tough Opponents and Player Struggles
17:53 Player Name Pronunciation Game
18:47 Coaching in Modern Tennis
21:44 Special Guest: Karl Hale on New Tournament Formats
26:37 Player Sentiments on 12-Day Events
30:15 Tournament Pullouts and Future Concerns
35:10 Predictions and Retirement Speculations
36:42 Closing Remarks

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The Ugliest Games in Tennis, Sam's Reality TV Flashback, & Canada Recap | EP 90 Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

The boys are back and things are getting ugly (in the best way) as they revisit their “Ugliest Strokes” debate, respond to hilarious fan feedback, and rank the absolute worst games in tennis history.
There's plenty to break down from Toronto and Montreal, but more importantly, Sam feels this is the right time to reflect on his infamous stint on Bravo’s Millionaire Matchmaker ... complete with a fake house and even a fake... dog?!
Plus: want life advice from your favorite tennis pros? We’re launching a new segment, and you could be part of it!
00:00 Intro
00:51 Welcome to the Show!
02:38 Stevie's Hall of Fame Induction
05:11 Discussing Ugly Tennis Games
13:45 Comparing Toronto and Montreal Tournaments
15:41 Toronto Draw and QFs Preview
17:22 Toronto Predictions
21:01 Vasek Pospisil Retires
23:45 Montreal Reaction
25:54 US Open x The Bachelor
30:19 Sam's Reality TV Experience
34:22 New Life Advice Segment
35:55 Goodbye!

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Alexander Zverev Joins the Pod, Dinners with Rafa & Chasing Grand Slam Glory | EP 89 Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

World No. 3 Alexander Zverev stops by for what might be the funniest and most dehydrated interview of his life. Battling full-body cramps (seriously), Zverev still dives into it all: the crash after the Australian Open final, the mistakes he’s owned, and what it’ll take to finally leave the 'No Majors' club.
The crew discuss mental health, public pressure, and the wild experience of being coached by both Toni AND Rafael Nadal that resulted in an incredible story of Rafa giving a forehand masterclass in the middle of an intense dinner that went until at 1AM....
Zverev gives Sam a hard time, questions the so-called “Golden Generation” of the 1980s, and opens up about traveling with dogs, his growing collection of questionable gold chains, before being put on the Nothing Major Hot Seat.
One of the funniest, weirdest, and most honest chats we’ve had with a top player. And yes, the cramps made the cut!
Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:51 Episode teaser
01:08 Getting Zverev on the Podcast
02:15 Zverev's Joins the Pod and the Beef with Sam
11:15 Sibling Rivalry and Early Career
13:51 Challenges and Future Goals
19:14 Coaching and Mentorship
23:28 Rafa's Unbelievable Dedication
24:34 Advice from a Champion
25:55 The Roland Garros Setback
28:09 Comparing Tennis Generations
32:21 Las Vegas Companions
35:22 Traveling with Dogs
37:11 Worst Match Memories
40:23 Annoying Opponents
41:44 European Pet Peeves in America
43:47 Goodbye!

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DC Download, Canada & The Ugliest Strokes in Tennis History | EP 88 Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

John, Jack, Stevie, and Sam kick off the week by breaking down the biggest headlines in tennis.
The boys recap the big results from Washington D.C., discuss Venus Williams’ return to the court, and preview the tour’s upcoming stops in Canada.
The crew start an important debate, what are the ugliest swings in tennis history? And reveal what insurance looks like for pro tennis players.
Plus, they tease an exciting special guest joining Friday’s episode…
00:00 Intro
00:50 Weekend Recap
01:12 Washington DC Event Highlights
03:13 Men's Final Analysis: Thrills and Heartbreaks
05:34 First Titles and Player Reflections
10:10 Ben Shelton's Performance and Potential
16:23 Venus Williams' Comeback and Women's Highlights
21:29 Other Tournament Results and Cheap Points Debate
23:04 Insurance Talk and Retirement Benefits
23:42 Retirement Insurance Options
24:39 The Hassles of Dental Insurance
26:12 Booking Flights and Celebrity Tasks
27:27 Toronto vs. Montreal Tournaments
32:51 Debating Ugly Tennis Strokes
38:07 Heated Argument and Final Thoughts

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Mark Ein Joins the Pod, Favorite Moments and our Birthday Special! | EP 87 Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

Nothing Major turns one!
Join John, Jack, Sam, and Stevie for the one-year anniversary episode as they celebrate 12 months of being on air, not being cancelled and somehow not being sick of each other.
This week the boys are joined by Mark Ein, Tournament Director of the Washington DC Open and partner of the Washington Commanders, who shares his journey in tennis, what it takes to run a world-class tournament, and some unforgettable stories, including a special moment with Rafael Nadal.
A big thank you for following, subscribing and listening to Nothing Major, here's to the future!
00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message
02:22 Celebrating One Year of the Podcast
03:20 Favorite Moments and Guests
06:24 Goals for the Next Year
08:24 Discussing the Washington DC Tournament
10:34 Memorable Matches and Experiences
19:09 Interview with Mark Ein
20:03 Debating Tennis Strategies
21:05 Transforming the Tournament Experience
23:04 From Ball Boy to Tournament Owner
24:13 Challenges of Hosting Top Players
26:17 Player Requests and Tournament Logistics
30:11 Crossover Between Tennis and NFL Ownership
32:23 Memorable Matches and Player Interactions
39:04 Fun Questions and Personal Stories
44:52 Outro and Future Plans

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Mid-Season Awards, Toronto Withdrawals & The Doubles Debate | EP 86 Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

John, Sam, Stevie, and a late-arriving Jack are here to kick off your week!
Sam and John’s Sinner/Doubles hot take took the tennis world by storm over the weekend, and the heated debate continues in today’s episode. With a flood of withdrawals, the Toronto Open is shaping up to look very different, and the boys break down the big dropouts.
Looking ahead to D.C. Andre Agassi is back in the headlines as he prepares to mentor Holger Rune, while the crew weighs in on the status of a slightly underwhelming Hopman Cup.
Plus with the third Slam of the year now in the rearview, The gang host their very own mid-season tennis awards featuring some highly questionable categories like “Coolest Coaching Entourage” and “Player Most Likely to Gain 100 Pounds.”
00:00 Introduction
00:46 Debate: Sinner vs. Doubles Champions
07:28 Midseason Awards Discussion
17:28 Most Likely to Gain Weight After Playing
18:58 Midseason Awards and Player Updates
19:53 Discussion on Player Performances
25:28 Hopman Cup: A Blast from the Past
29:20 Upcoming Tournaments and Player Withdrawals
35:19 Coaching Trials and Final Thoughts

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Wimbledon Mailbag, Sam's Stolen Valor & Sinner's Doubles Challenge | Nothing Major | EP 85 Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Wimbledon may be done and dusted, but the boys have still got some stories to tell!
John, Sam and Stevie discuss their own Wimbledon experiences and share stories from the Legends Tournament to Sam's surprising attendance at this year's Champion's Dinner.
The boys dip into the Major Mailbag to answer some listener questions and the winner of the 2025 Wimbledon Bracket Challenge joins the boys to celebrate his victory.
00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message
02:07 Wimbledon Recap and Highlights
03:17 Wimbledon Champion's Dinner Experience
09:57 Travel Stories and Anecdotes
14:27 Wimbledon Towels Tradition
22:58 Wimbledon Towels and Trading Stories
23:30 Hypothetical Tennis Match: Doubles vs. Sinner
25:55 Most European American Tennis Players
29:48 Junior Tennis Memories and Favorite Events
31:43 Bracket Challenge Winner Interview
35:55 Fashion Phases on Tour
41:59 Conclusion and Merchandise Promotion

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2025 Wimbledon: Finals Recap | Something Major | EP 84 Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

John, Jack, and Stevie reunite for the final episode of Something Major, Wimbledon 2025 edition, to break down all the action from Championship Weekend.
The trio reflects on Iga Swiatek’s dominant performance in the women’s final and Sinner’s revenge win over Alcaraz on the men’s side. Stevie shares personal stories about getting bagelled, while Jack gives us an inside look at the Champions' Ball.
We also dive into who might challenge Sinner or Alcaraz in the near future - and unpack a curious story from Washington 2021 that perfectly captures Sinner’s personality.
--
00:00 – Introduction and Welcome
01:06 – Wimbledon Champions' Ball Dance
05:58 – Women’s Final Analysis
17:20 – Men’s Final Analysis
23:15 – Sinner's Improved Net Play
24:26 – The Baseline Dominance
27:03 – Sinner vs. Alcaraz Future Predictions
29:21 – Who Can Challenge Sinner and Alcaraz?
31:33 – Sinner’s Washington 2021 Story
34:26 – Zverev’s New Coaching Setup
38:58 – Bracket Challenge Winner and Goodbye!

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